Derek Lunsford: He Lost, Then Became Unstoppable —And he’s doing it all again in 2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj6f6X_Gd8o
In this powerful episode of Unwracked, Andrew Berry and Kyle Wilkes sit down with Mr. Olympia Derek Lunsford for a deep conversation about mindset, faith, and the evolution of bodybuilding. Derek opens up about his championship mentality, how losing freed him from the fear of failure, and the spiritual transformation that reshaped his life and career.
They dive into everything from training structure and nutrition differences between coaches to how Derek balances family, business, and competition. You’ll hear what drives the reigning Mr. Olympia, how faith fuels his discipline, and what’s next for him heading into 2025.

⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Intro & Derek’s Return from Vacation
02:15 – Cruises as the Perfect Bodybuilder Vacation
03:45 – Mindset After Winning Mr. Olympia Again
05:45 – Lessons from Winning & Losing
07:30 – Transitioning from 212 to Open
10:30 – The Gym Culture & Circle of Support in Tampa
13:30 – Coaching Change & Working with Chris Aceto
15:20 – Faith Journey, Baptism & Finding Peace
20:00 – Handling Public Scrutiny & Online Negativity
24:00 – How Faith & Bodybuilding Coexist
25:45 – Training Evolution: Less Volume, More Focus
28:00 – Derek’s Leg Day Breakdown
30:20 – Intensifiers & Training Philosophy
33:30 – Why He Doesn’t Log Lifts or Use “Spreadsheet Coaching”
36:00 – Machines vs Free Weights for Longevity
38:45 – Training Splits & Recovery
40:10 – Dealing with Injury and Chest Strain Before Olympia
41:50 – Nutrition Differences Between Coaches
44:00 – Peaking & Preferred Show Look
46:30 – Lineup Strategy & Look Adjustments
47:30 – Favorite Pre-Workout Meals & Simplicity in Diet
49:45 – Managing Cravings & Cheat Meals
51:00 – Goals After Reclaiming the Title
52:30 – Thoughts on Hadi, Samson, Nick & Martin
54:45 – Rivalries: Motivation vs Stress
56:15 – Defining a “Perfect Career” & Post-Bodybuilding Plans
59:45 – Lessons from 2024: Faith, Failure, and Focus

🏆 Key Topics
Derek’s mindset shift after losing and regaining the title
The balance of faith, family, and bodybuilding
Training philosophy evolution — quality over volume
Nutritional strategies and peaking with Chris Aceto
Building a community-driven gym in Tampa
The mental game of being Mr. Olympia
Future goals: fatherhood, legacy, and giving back

📢 Guest
Derek Lunsford — Reigning 2x Mr. Olympia, Former 212 Olympia Champ, Arnold Classic & Pitt Pro Champion, faith-driven athlete, entrepreneur, and founder of Champs Elysium Gym (Tampa, FL).
Sponsors: @dereklunsford_

🎧 Hosts
Andrew Berry – IFBB Pro, IFBB & NPC Coach ‪@berryswole‬
Kyle Wilkes – IFBB & NPC Coach @kyle.wilkes